Watch cleaning machine



March 26. 1940. H, F, PABST 2,195,123v

WATCH CLEANINGMCHINE: l'

Filed Aug. 11, 1937 z shams-sheet 1 March 26, 1940. H. F. PABsT WATCHCLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. ll, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 jira 5 Il I 4March 2,6, 1940. H, F, PABST- 2,195,123

WATCH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Ag. 1l, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmm /r"`" "WTH] I lifllll] lll Patented Mar. 26, 1940 v UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE2,195,123 Y wA'rcn amiamo MACHINE Herman F. Pabst, Huntington Park,Calif. Application August 11, 1931, Serial No. 158,458

Claims. (Cl. 141-1) This invention relates tothe horological artdinately with the legs I3 to support the maand particularly to apparatusfor cleaning watch chine I8. parts and the like. y Journalled inbearing' 25 is a vertical table' It is an object of my invention toprovide a shaft 48 which has a turned-down extension 4I 5 machine forcleaning watch parts and the like, at its lower end and on the upper endof which 5 which from the time the watch lparts are comis mounted anintermittently rotatable table 42. mitted thereto will b eself-operating until the The table 42 includes a hub 43 which is in theprocess of cleaning these watch parts has been form of a Geneva wheelhaving radial slots 44 completely finished. (see Fig. 3) upon which issecured a table deck 18 It is a further object of my invention toproplate 45. This deck plate rests very close toA or 10v vide such emachine which is simple in ccnslidinsly upon the frame ring I6 and isprovided struction, inexpensive to build, which may be opwith a seriesof sockets 48. One of the sockets 48 erated at a low cost, and whichwill be long lived. is adapted t0 hold e dryer 41, the deck plete 45 Themanner of accomplishing the foregoing obhaving a hole 48 therein beneaththe dryer 41.

jects as well as further objects and advantages Just above the hole 48is a ring of asbestos 58 15 will be made manifest in the followingdescription vwhich supports an electric heating element 5I taken inconnection with the accompanying (see Figs. 2, 5 and 6). The dryer 41also includes drawings in which: a tubular wall 52 which ts within itssocket Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment 48 and rests onring 50. of'my invention; i Mounted on the base floor I2 is an electricmo- 20 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on tor 55 driving ablower 58, the discharge 0f which the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; is connectedto a tube 51 leading to a nozzle 58.

Flg.3isahorizontal sectional view taken on the This DOH-1e iS located S08S t0 direct air 11D- line 3 3 of Fig. 2; wardly, and is disposed thesame radial distance Fig, 4 1S 9, fragmentary veri-,ical sectional Viewfrom the axis of the shaft 40 as the hole 48 so'that 25 taken on theline 4 4 of Fig, 3; this hole may be brought directly over the nozzleFig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view 53 as ShOWn in Fig- 2.taken on the line 5 5 0f Fig, 2; The other sockets 48 support jars 88,8| and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view 32 Which haveVertical flengeS 63 extending in- 38 taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;wardly from lthe walls thereof and are adapted 30 Fig. '1 is a diagramcf electrical wiring cf the to contain liquids to be employed in thecleaning machine illustrated in the other views. 0I Watch, parte.

I shall now refer specifically to the drawings Mounted on a lowerportion 18 of the floor I2 is in which a machine m comprising thepreferred a. drive motor 1I having a shaft 12 which carries a embodimentof my invention is illustrated. This Welm 73 and the end 0f Which ShaftiS'JOur- 35 machine has a. base frame II which includes a nalled in thebearing 29 (see Fig. 3). Journalled 'oor I2 having legs I3 and a flangeI4 from which in bearings 21 and 28 is a shaft 14 having va worm flangea wall I5 extends vertically upward. Segear 15 which meshes with theworm 13 so as to cured to the upper edge of the wall I5 and suptransmitrotary motion from the shaft 12 to the 40 ported thereonisaframering I8having an openshaft 14. Also provided on the shaft 14 is a 40 ing I1 inthe center thereof and a vertical bearworm 18 which meshes with a wormgear 11 ing I8 which is in vertical alignment with a bearprovided on avertical shaft 18, the opposite endsv ing I9 provided on the floor I2(see Figs. 3 and of which are journalled in bearings I8 and I9. 4). Theiioor I2 also has bearings 28 and 2l, Fixed on the shaft 18 above gear11 is an arm 80 the axis of which lies in the same plane as the havinga. roller 8| which is adapted to travel in 45 axis of the bearings I3and I8. Also providedin slots 44 of the table hub 43 in a manner and forthe floor I2 are bearings 25, 28, 21, 28 and 23 a purpose to bedescribed hereinafter. Fixed on (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4). the shaft 18below the gear 11 is a mitre gear 85 The oor I2 has a wall 38 formedintegral which meshes with a mitre gear 86 provided on therewith andwhich extends downwardly therethe inner end of a shaft 81 which isjournalledV 50 from just beneath the bearings 2l and 28, the in thebearings 28 and 2| (see Figs. 3 and 4). wall 38 being enclosed within aflat portion 3l Fixed on the opposite end of the shaft 81 is an of thewall I5. Extending outwardly from the intermittent drive gear 88 havingtoothed secwall 38 is a platform 32 on which is provided a tors 89, andsectors 98 which are bare of teeth. socket 33, the 'lower end of thisserving coor- Journalled in bearing 28 is a crank shaft 9| hav- 55Opposite terminals of heater 3| are connected by ing a switch cam 32fixed to its inner end and a gear 33 and crank arm 33 nxed to its outerend. Gear 33 has toothed segments 33a and smooth dwells 33b. 'I'he wall3| has an opening surrounding the hub of gear 33 and lies between v thisgear and the crank arm 33. The gear 33 is in radial alignment with thegear 33 and when a sector 33 is opposite the gear 33, a segment 33a ofthe latter meshes with this sector. When a sector 33 is opposite thegear 33 however, this sector extends into a dwell 33h in gear 33 whichholds the latter from rotating until engaged by the next sector 33. f

Mounted in the socket 33 is a vertical slide shaft 33 on which issplined for vertical sliding movement a sleeve 33 having a shaft 31extending horizontally therefrom inwardly towards the table 32.Pivotally mounted at its lower end on the crank 33 and at its upper endon the shaft 31 is a. pitman 33. The inner end of the shaft 31 supportsan electric motor 33, the shaft |33 of which has a downward extension|3| which is adapted to support basket |32 containing watch parts and totransmit rotary .motion from the shaft |33 to the basket |32 when themotor 33 is energized.

Mounted on the floor I2 is a switch |33 (see Fig. 5) Iior controllingthe motor 33, said switch being actuated by'a roller arm |33 whichfollows the periphery of the cam 32 as the gear 33 rotates.

' Mounted on the bottom of the floor |2 is a rotarydistributing switch|33 which includes a hub |33 of insulating material, the latter beingfixed upon the downward extension 3| of the shaft 33. The hub |33 ofswitch |33 has ring conductors ||3 and and segmental conductors ||2,||3, |I3 and H3. Asl shown in Fig. '1, the conductor ring ||3 iselectrically connected to the segmental conductors ||3 and ||3 and thering is connected to the segmental conductor H3. Bearing against thecylindrical outer surface of the switch hub` |33 in the same planes asthe conductors ||3, |I2, ||3, ||3 and respectively, are brushes H3",||3, ||1, ||3 and ||3 (see Figs. Zand 7) As indicated in the wiringdiagram of Fig. 7, electricity is received from the generator G andtransmitted continuously to the main drive motor 1| when a main switch|23 is closed. Electricity is also transmitted from the generator G tothe basket rotating motor 33 whenever the switch |33 is closed. Thelatter takes place whenever the low point or dwell of the cam 32 isrotated with the gear 33 so as to come opposite the roller arm |33 ofthe switch |35. The conductor ring and segments ||3 and H5 are providedto rotation of the hub |33 of the switch |33 brings the segment ||2 intocontact with the brush ||3 and the blower motor 33 is only energizedwhen the rotation of the hub |33 brings the segment ||3 thereon intocontact with the brush ||1, as will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art.

Operation The preferred manner in which the machine |3 of my inventionoperates is as follows:

'I'he switch |23 is always shut of! at the conclusion of a watch partscleaning operation with the crank 33 turned so as to. lift the pitman 33upwardly and thus hold the basket |32 entirely above the level of theupper edges of the jars 33, 3| and 32 and the dryer 31 and with thetable l32 so positioned that when the crank 33 again turns to lower thebasket |32, the latter will be extended downwardly into the jar 33.Before starting the cleaning operation, the jar 33 is partly fllled witha quantity of cleaning liquid, the jar 3| is partly filled with abody ofrinse liquid and the `iar 32 is partly lled with a second body of rinseliquid.

The basket |32 is now removed from the member |3| the watch parts to becleaned are placed in the basket, and the basket is reapplied to themember |3| as shown in Fig. 2, although this basket-'is still suspendedabove the upper end of the jar 33. The main switch |23 is now closedstarting the main drive motor 1|, which, until the end of the cleaningoperation about to be described, continuously rotates shafts 12, 13, 13and 31.

When the switch |23 is thus thrown in, the gears 33 and 33 are relatedto each other approximately as shown in Fig. 5, and the energizing ofcontrol the speed of the basket rotating motor 33.

The segment ||3 being electrically connected to the ring H3 causes themotor 33 to run at full speed when the contact I3 rides on the `segment||3. When the contact ||3 passes from the segment ||3 onto the segmentI3 the current is reduced by a suitable resistance R to cause the motor33 to run at slow speed when extending down into the jar 33.

As also shown by the wiring diagram of Fig. "I, the rotary switch |33controls the passage of electricity from the generator G to the heater3| of the dryer 31 and to the motor 53 of-this dryer.

suitable conductors with the segments ||3 and ||2 of the switch |33,these conductors being diagrammatically shown in Figs. 2 and 7. In otherwdrds, the heater 3| is energized only when the the motor 1| results inthe operative meshing of one sector 33 of the gear 33 with the gear 33,so as to rotate the latter and swing the crank arm 33 downwardly, thuslowering the basket |32 into the jar 33 which is disposed therebeneath.When this takes place, the arm 33 (see Figs. 3 and 4) is swinging in thedirection of the arrow |23 and carrying the roller 3| on the end of thisarm out of one of the slots 33 of the Geneva gear 33 so as to leave thetable 32 standing still.

As the basket |32 reaches its lowermost position, the gear 33 hasrotated to the point where the teeth of the sector 33 disengage theteeth of the gear 33, this causing the rotation of the gear 33 to ceasewith the crank arm 33 extending downwardly. When this occurs, the cam 32has rotated so that the low point in the periphery thereof is oppositethe roller arm |33 causing the latter to swing inwardly and close theswitch |33, this energizing the motor 33 through resistance R, ring andsector ||3 (see Flg.7) so as to rotate the basket |32 at a relativelyslow rate of speed.

As the jar 33 in which the basket is now disposedis lled with cleaningliquid to a level above the upper end of the basket, the basket and thewatch parts contained therein aresubmerged ln this liquid, as the basketis rotated, thereby disaromas the end-thereof approaches mouth of thexnext slot 44 onthe Geneva wheel 40. Before this bringing the teeth of'the secondsector 00 into mesh with the gear 90 and rotating the crankarm 94 so as to lift the basket |02 out of and entirely above the Jar00. Beforethe basket 02 reaches the upper end of jar 00, the rotation ofthe motor 99 is stopped by the high portion of the cam 92 comingopposite the-roller arm |00 of the switch |05 controlling this motor, asshown in Fig. 5. The basket |02 isthus not rotating when it is removedfrom the jar 00. This prevents liquid being thrown from the basket ,|02by centriiugal force which would take place if the basket was allowed tocontinue rotating.

As the basket |02 is thus lifted from the jar 00, the roller 8| movesinto the next slot 44 of the Geneva wheel 43 and rotates the table 42just a suiilcient distance to bring the Jar directly beneath the basket|02. As will be recalled, this jar contains the iirst rinseu solution,and immediately after this jar has thus been positioned beneath thebasket |02, the latter is lowered into the rinse solution in this jarand the rotation oi the basket by the motor 99 is started by the switch|05. The motor 09 nowA rotates at full speed because it is energizedthrough the ring |.|0 and sector 4 which cuts out the resistance R. Onlywhile the watch parts are being cleaned in jar 80 is the speed of motor99 decreased, this being preferable for maximum cleaning efficiency ofthe cleaning ,solution in jar B0.

In the same manner as the basket |02 was rotated for a substantialperiod in the cleaning solution in the jar 00, it is now allowed tocontinue to rotate in the jar 6|,after which it is lifted up in the samemanner as previously described, the table 42 is again rotated to brinsthe jar 02 in position beneath the basket |02 and the latter is againlowered, this time within the lar 02 which contains a second rinsesolution and in 4which the basket is rotated again for a given period athigh velocity by the motor 99. At the conclusion of the period duringwhich the basket |02 is rotated in jar 62, the basket is lifted upwardautomatically from this lar, the

table 42 is rotated to bring the dryer 41 into position beneath thebasket and the latter is now lowered into this' dryer and rotated foraperiod of the same length as it was rotated previously in each of thejars 00, 0| and 02.

When the jar 62 was first brought into position beneath the basket |02,the switch 08 caused contact to be made between the conductor I|2 andthe brush ||6 so as to energize the heater f a blast of air to beexpelled upwardly from the nomle 50 through the hole 48 and the heatingelement against the basket |02, which now is being lowered into itslowermost position in the dryer and is being rapidly rotated by themotor 00.

e switch |20 has a handle |50 which when ed to the full line position inFig. 1, turns line position |0| that ngure turns the switcl |20 oir.vThe ta le 42 is' provided with a dog |02 which is so tioned thereonthatafter the basket has been r ted for its usual period in the dryer 41and then lifted upwardly, and the table rotated by the engagement. oi'the roller 0| with the Geneva wheel\40 the dog |02 engages the handle|50 oi' the switch |20 so as to shut oi! this switch and de-energize themotor 1| when the table is rotated to a position in which the dryer 41and the jar 60 are spaced equally on opposite sides of the elevatedbasket |02. When the table 42 is thus stopped, .the dog |52` is ap-;irioxilmately in its dotted line position |50 (see 'I'he watch partswhich are now completely cleaned and dried, may beremoved from thebasket |02 and another set of-watch parts placed in this basket in orderto clean lthese in the machine |0. To cause the machine I0 to go throughanother complete cycle of operations as above described, the operatormerely turns the handle |50 of the switch |20 from its dotted lineposition |5| to its full line position as shown in Fig. 1.

For convenience the basket |02 and motor 99 may be considered as a watchbart dousing unit.

,What I claim is:

1. In a machine for cleaning watch parts and 1the like, the combinationof: adousing unit including a basket, for containing wat'ch parts to becleaned, and a motor for rapidly rotating said basket;`power means forreciprocating said unit between raised and lowered positions. said meanshaving lost motion while said unit is in said lowered position;container means providing a seriesof ltreating chambers; means actuatedby said power means to produce relative horizontal cluding a basket forcontaining watch parts to be cleaned and a motor for rapidly rotatingsaid basket about a vertical axis; container means providing a series oftreating chambers; power means for automatically causing relativevertical movement between said unit and said container means to cause aminimum spaced relation therebetween in which said basket is disposed inone of said chambers and then to restore a maximum spaced relation inwhich said basket is located outy oi' said chamber; mechanism actuatedby said power means in timely relation with said relative verticalmovement to producerelative horizontal movement between Asaid containermeans and L said unit during said maximum spaced relation to bringanother given one oi' said chambers into vertical alignment with saidbasket; and switch means actuated by said power nieans in timelyrelation with said relative vertical movement to energize said .motorwhen said l basket is disposed in one of said chambers and to deenergizesaid motor whenl said basket is removed by said relative verticalmovement from said chamber.

3. In a machine for cleaning watchparts and the like,A the combinationof: a dousing unit including a basket for containing watch parts to thswitch |20 on and when turned tothe broken be cleaned and means i'orrapidly rotating said 7| basket about a vertical axis; container meansproviding a series of treating chambers; power means for automaticallycausing relative vertical movement between said unit and said containermeans to cause a minimum spaced relation therebetween in which saidbasket is disposed in one oi' said chambers and then to restore amaximum spaced relation in which said basket is located out of saidchamber; mechanism actuated by said power means in timelyrelation withsaid relative vertical movement to produce relative horizontal movementbetween said container means and said unit during said maximum spacedrelation to bring another given one of said chambers into verticalalignment with said basket, said power means being continuouslyoperative when once started to cause said basket to be disposed asaforesaid consecutively in all of said treating chambers; means forheating the final chamber in which said basket is disposed in theoperation of said machine; and means controlled by said power means, intimely relation with said mechanism, for energizing said heater meansduring the period said basket is disposed in the chamber heated by saidheating means and for denergiz- Y ing said heating means when saidbasket is removed from said last mentioned'chamber.

4. In a machine for cleaning watch parts and the like, the combinationof: a dousing unit including a basket for containing watch parts to becleaned and means for rapidly rotating said basket about a verticalaxis; container means providing a series of treating chambers; powermeans for automatically causing relative vertical movement between saidunit and said container means to cause a minimum spaced relationtherebetween in which said basket is disposed in one of said chambersand then to restore a maximum spaced relation in whichsaid basket islocated out of said chamber; mechanism actuated by said power means intimely relation with said relative vertical movement to produce relativehorisontal movement .between said container means and 4said unit duringsaid maximum spaced `relationlto bring another given one lof saidchambers into vertical alignment with said basket, said power meansbeing continuously operative when once started to cause said basket tobe disposed as aforesaid consecutively in all of said treating chambers;means for starting and i Y cluding a basket for containing watch-parts tbe cleaned and means for rapidly rotating said basket about a verticalaxis; container means providing a series of treating chambers; powermeans for automatically causing relative vertical movement between saidunit and said container means to cause a minimum spaced relationtherebetween, in which said basket is disposed in one of said chambers,and then to restore a maximum spaced relation in which said basket islocated out of said chamber; mechanism actuated by said power means intimely relation with said relative vertical movement to produce relativehorizontal movement between said container means and said unit duringsaidl maximum spaced relation to bring another given one'of saidchambers into vertical alignment with said basket, said power meansbeing continuously operative when once started to cause said basket tobe disposed as aforesaid consecutively in all of said treating chambers;and means operated in timely relation with said mechanism for varyingthe speed with which said basket is rotated in said different chambers.

HERMAN F. PABST.

